Car-roof.



G. H. GILMAN & H. M. ROBERTSON.

CAH ROOF.

APPLICATION HLEIJ JAN. I2. 1914 Patented Oct. 5, 191-.

1 EN TURS' m H r g A TTOk/Vli VJ G. H. GILMAN & H. M. ROBERTSON. CAR ROOF.

APPUCATION mu] JAN. \2. 19m

1,155,563. Patented Out. 5, 1915.

2 SHEETS SHEEX Z.

UNITED STATES OFFICE.

GEORGE HENRY GILMAN AND HENRY MILLS ROBERTSON, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

CAR-ROOF.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we. G'EORGE H. GILMAN and HENRY M. Roamrrsos, citizens of the United States, residing at St. Paul, inthe county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful 1mprovements in Car-Roofs, of which the following is a specification.

()ur invention relates to the construction of railway car roofs. and has for its object to )rovide. in a roof structure for box cars and the like. certain novel and improved arrangements, devices and combinations whereby the structure will be very rigid, strong and durable, and at the same time simple and inexpensive in its construction.

For reasons which are well known, a box car when in service has a tendency to weave, that, is, to suffer oscillatory distortion from its normal rectangular form. Car roofs of ordinary construction soon become unserviceable because of these weaving movements which, moreover, injuriously affect the rigidity and stability of the entire box structure of the car.

One of the primary objects of our invention is to provide an improved construction for box car roofs that will effectually resist the tendency of the car to weave". thereby adding to the life of the roof and also to the strength. rigidity and durability of the car structure as a whole.

A further object of the invention is to provide a box car roof comprising a wooden roof structure of such rigidity and firmness that sheet. metal covering or roof plates which extend clear across the car from one side to the other and are attached to the side walls may be employed without risk of cracking or tearing the metal sheets.

Heretofore outside metal roofs have ordinarily been made up of roof sheets which have a floating relation with the wooden structure on which they rest and with each other which makes the roof complicated and expensive. ()nr invention, by providing a wooden roof structure which is not subject to the weaving or like strains. makes it possible for the roof sheets to extend continuously across the car from side to side and be attached rigidly to the side plates of the car. This construction has the advantages of making the roof more certainly waterproof and decreasing the cost of the metal covering.

The in ention has for further objects such other new and improved arrangements, devices and constructions as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is shown, in a preferred embodiment, in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, in perspective, of the roof of a box car constructed in accordance with our invention, the drawmg showing certain parts broken away to more clearly illustrate the particular features of the construction constituting our invention; Fig. 2, a fragmentary plan view of the inner or wooden roof structure showing particularly one of the anchoring devices employed for anchoring the roof boards to the purlins and checking relative longitudinal movement between adjacent roof boards: Fig. 3, a cross sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a perspective view, on a larger scale, of the corner of the roof showing certain parts broken away; Fig. 5, a sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 6, a view. in perspective, of one of the aforementioned anchoring devices.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings which show the upper portion of a box car which is of familiar construction. except so far as the roof is concerned. 10 designates the side plates of the car. 11 one of the end plates, 12 one of the cal-lines. 13 the ridge pole and 14 the purlins. ()ur invention is concerned onlv with the roof structure of the car and is not to be understood as limited to the particular type of car construction shown and described.

In the embodiment of our invention shown in the drawings. the roof of the car is made up of a plurality of roof boards 15 which may be covered by metal roof sheets 16 or other waterproof roofing material. The roof boards are preferably matched planks extending diagonally across the car and are bent or curved so as to give the roof an arched configuration; the upper edges of the carlines being preferably curved as shown. In order to hold the extremities of the boards down in their proper position, as against their elasticity, or the thrusts of the cargo against the arch of the roof, we provide, in addition to the nails 18, retaining wires 19 which extend through kerfs 20 cut in the end edges of the boards; the wires being preferably anchored at their extremities 21 under the side fascia plates .22 and the end fascia plates 23 of the car. By this arrangement each board tends to hold the others in proper position so that if the nails of any one board become loosened, as is possible through vibration, rotting of the wood or other causes. such board is nevertheless kept from springing-up or being forced away from the side or end plate of the car as the case may be. To a certain extent the matchin of the roof boards tends to accomplish this end but not with suflicient reliability and certainty since. if the boards were held together only by their matching, it would require only a small force to break 011' the tongue which engages one board with the next. The wires 19 are preferably held in place at the bottoms of the kerfs by rows of nails 24. lVith the same end in view of interlocking one roof board with another and firmly anchoring said boards in their arched or bent position to the frame of the car, we provide at intervals along the meeting edges of the roof boards a number of preferably tapered metal anchoring devices :25 formed with perforations 26 (Fig. 6) and secured to the supporting members which sustain the roof boards, preferably to the purlins and ridge pole, by means of bolts 27. The meeting edges of adjacent roof boards are formed with pairs of registering recesses to receive the anchoring devices which are preferably tapered from top to bottom so that the anchoring devices make a close or wedging fit with the boards. For example. the anchoring devices may be oval in cross section. as shown. in which case the recesses for each anchoring device are formed by boring a circular hole (indicated by the dotted line 28. Fig. '2) at the meeting edges of the pair of boards in question. and driving the oval anchoring device into this circular hole with the greater diameter of the former extending transversely of the boards. The anchoring device is preferably formed at the top with a recess 29 for the head of the bolt 27 which secures the device to the purlin or ridge pole as the case may be. By this expedient the roof boards. in the first place, are securely anchored at intervals to the purlins and. in the second place. adjacent boards are engaged one with the other so as to prevent any relative longitudinal movements between the boa rds. The diagonal arrangement of the boards of the roof particularly when matched in a structure having an arched configuration. together with the means for securely and with certainty holding the extremity of the boards down upon the side and end plates of the car. supplemented by the expedient of anchoring the arched boards at intervals to the purlins and preventing longitudinal movement between adjacent boards, results cumulatively in providing a roof structure which will effectually resist not only the stresses tending to cause the car to weave or otherwise become distorted from its normal or intended form, but also to a greater extent than other roofs are capable of the heavier shocks which the car may receive in a wreck. It might be added that, in addition to the vibratory movements commonly called weaving. the opposite corners of the side walls of a box car have a tendency to move vertically in alternate vibrations. In other words, the car tends to become distorted not only in horizontal planes but also in vertical planes. This latter tendency is particularly destructive of the roof of the car and is effectually checked by our construction, particularly by the retaining wires which bind the extremities of adjacent roof boards together so that no one can yield from its normal position unless the others yield also.

The firmness. rigidity and capacity for resisting weaving. and like strains, possessed by the structure above described makes it possible to employ roof sheets 16. as shown. which extend clear across the car from side to side. In the outside metal roofs which have met with anv success and have stood up against actual use under service conditions the roof sheets have usually extended only to the ridge pole. This arrangement. necessitated by the weaving and other like movements of the roof. requires a ridge pole cap or similar element along the center line of the roof which will cover the gaps between the roof sheets in such manner as to make the car waterproof and still allow a certain amount of freedom of movement as between the roof sheets necessary in order that the weaving of the roof shall not bend the roof sheets or tear them from their attachments to the side of the car. Our invention. by making it possible to use roof sheets extending continuously across the car from side to side. in the first place. insures a more certainly waterproof roof. and in the second place. cuts down the costof the metal work very materially. The transverse edges of the roof sheets may be interlocked or covered in any suitable manner. \Ve have shown the sheets provided with interlocking beads 30. 31. the ends of which are covered by caps 32. The sheets are shown as secured to the car by angular cleats The upper part of a box car has always been considered the weakest part of the car. The roof structure above described can. however. be made. to all intents and purposes. as strong as the floor of the car without making it unduly heavy. It will not only withstand the stresses tending to cause weaving and similar strains but will rigidify and strengthen the caras against the abnormal and violent shocks which a car receives when derailed or overturned. There has been a tendency of late to strengthen and rigidity the upper part of box cars'by substituting metal carlines for carlines made of wood. \Vith a roof constructed according to our invention it is quite feasible to use ordinary wooden carlines since the rigidity and capacity of the roof to resist the stresses exerted against it resides in the disposition and interrelation of the roof boards themselves. This is conceived to be the right principle since it results in an even distribution over every inch of the roof of various stresses to which the roof is subjected. Where dependence is put on metal carlines instead of upon the roof structure as a whole. the metal carlines have to be made heavy and often bulky. One of the advantages of our roof is that. in addition to being strong. it is very light and compact.

\Vhile we have described our invention in av certain preferred embodiment, modifications might be made without departure from the invention. Therefore we do not wish to be understood aslimiting the invention to the precise devices. constructions and arrangements shown except so far as said devices. constructions and arrangements are specifically made limitations on certain of the claims herein.

\Ve claim:

1. The combination with the side and end walls of a railway box car. of a roof structure for the car comprising a framework supported by said walls and having an arched configuration. and roof boards extending diagonally across said framework. bent so as to conform thereto. so engaged one with another along their meeting edges as to prevent longitudinal movement. and anchored to said framework and to said end and side walls.

9.. In a roof structure for railway cars, the combination with supporting members. of roof boards arranged diagonally of the car and bent so as to give the roof an arched configuration. and retaining wires which engage the extremities of said roof boards and hold them down in proper position.

3. In a roof structure for railway cars. the combination with supporting members. of roof boards arranged diagonally of the car and bent so as to give the roof an arched configuration. and a retaining element which engages the extremities of a plurality of ad jacent roof boards so as to distribute the stresses in one roof board among a plurality of said boards.

4. In a roof structure for railway cars. the combination with supporting members. of roof boards arranged diagonally of the car. bent so as to give the roof an arched configuration and formed with kerfs in their end edges. and a retaining element which extends through a plurality of said kerfs. so as to distribute the stresses at the edge of one of the roof boards among a plurality of said boards.

In a roof structure for railway cars, the combination with supporting members. of roof boards arranged diagonally of the car, bent so as to give the roof an arched configuration and formed'with kerfs in their end edges. and retaining wires extending through said kerfs.

6. In a roof structure for railway cars. the combination with supporting members. of roof boards arranged diagonally of the car and bent so as to give the roof an arched configuration. retaining devices which en gage the extremities of said roof boards and hold them. down in proper position, and anchoring devices arranged along the meeting edges of adjacent roof boards which secure the boards to said supporting members and in each case engage a pair of roof boards so as to check relative longitudinal movement between the same.

7. In a roof structure for railway cars, the combination with supporting members, of roof boards arranged diagonally of the car and bent so as to give the roof an arched configuration. retaining devices which engage the extremities of said roof boards and distribute the stresses at said extremities among a plu'ality of boards. said roof boards being formed at intervals along their meeting edges with registering recesses. tapered perforated anchoring devices titted one in each pair of recesses. and bolts securing said anchoring devices to said supporting members.

8. In a roof structure for railway cars. the combination with supporting members. of roof boards arranged diagonallv of the car. bent so as to give the roof an arched configuration. means for preventing relative longitudinal movement as between the roof boards and formed with kerfs in their end edges. a retaining element which extends through a plurality of said kerfs. said roof boards being formed at intervals along their meeting edges with registering recesses. anchoring devices fitted one into each pair of said recesses. and means for securing said anchoring devices to said supporting members.

In a roof structure for railway cars. the combination with supporting members. of roof boards arranged diagonally of the car. bent so as to give the roof an arched configuration and formed with kerfs in their end edges. a retaining element which ex tends through a plurality of said kerfs. said roof boards being formed at intervals along their meeting edges with registering recesses. tapered perforated anchoring devices having a wedging fit one in each pair of said recesses. and bolts securing said anchoring devices to said supporting members.

10. In a roof structure for railway cars.

the combination with carlines having their upper edges curved and purlins. of matched roof boards arranged diagonally of the car. bent so as to give the roof an arched con figuration and having kerfs formed in their end edges. wires extending through said kerfs along the sides and ends of the car. nails to retain said wires in place. said roof boards being formed at intervals along their meeting edges with registering recesses. tapered perforated anchoring devices having a wedging fit one in each pair of recesses. and bolts extending through the perforations of said anchoring devices and securing the same in said purlins.

11. in a roof structure for railway cars. the combination with supporting members. of roof boards arranged diagonally of the car and bent so as to give the roof an arched configuration. retaining devices which en gage the extremities of said roof boards and hold them down in proper position. and metal roof sheets extending continuously across the car from side to side and secured rigidly to the side walls thereof.

12. In a roof structure for railway cars,

the combination with supporting members.

of roof boards arranged diagonally of the car. bent so as to give the roof an arched configuration and formed with kerfs in thelr end edges, a retaining element which extends through a plurality of said kerfs, and metal roof sheets extending continuously across the car from side to side and provided with flanges which are secured rigdily to the side walls thereof so as to prevent said sheet from shifting.

13. In a roof structure for railway cars. the combination with supporting members. of roof boards arranged diagonally of the car and bent so as to give the roof an arched configuration. retaining devices which engage the extremities of said roof boards and hold them down in proper position. anchoring devices arranged along the meeting edges of the adjacent roof boards which secure the boards to said supporting members and in each case engage a pair of root boards so as to check relative longitudinal movement between the same. and metal roof sheets extending ('OIltlIlll()llSl across the car from side to side and rigidly secured to the side walls thereof.

14. In a roof structure for railway cars. the combination with supporting members. of roof boards arranged diagonally of the car and bent so as to give the roof an arched configuration. retaining devices which en gage the extremities of said roof boa rds and hold them down in proper position. said roof boards being formed at intervals along their meeting edges with registering recesses. tapered perforated anchoring devices fitted one in each pair of recesses. bolts securing said anchoring devices to said supporting members. and metal roof sheets extending continuously across the car from side to side and secured rigidly to the side walls thereof.

15. In a roof structure for railway cars, the combination with carlines having their upper edges curved and purlins. of matched roof boards arranged diagonally of the car, bent so as to give the roof an arched configuration and having kerfs formed in their end edges. wire extending through said kerfs along the sides and ends of the car. nails to retain said wires in place, said roof boards being formed at intervals along their meeting edges with registering recesses. tapered perforated anchoring devices having a wedging lit one in each pair of recesses. bolts extending through the perfo 'ations of said anchoring devices and securing the same to said purlins. and metal roof sheets extending continuously across the car from side to side and secured rigidly to the side walls thereof.

16. The combination with the framing of a railway box car. of a roof structure for the car comprising roof boards arranged diagonally on the car and bent so as to give the roof an arched construction, and means for anchoring said roof boards to said car frame and engaging adjacent boards one to another which prevents relative movement as between said roof boards both in a vertical direction and also longitudinally of the boards.

17. The combination with the framing of a railway box car. of a roof structure for the ear comprising roof boards arranged diagonally on the car and bent so as to give the roof an arched construction. means for anchoring said roof boards to said car frame and engaging adjacent boads one to another which prevents relative movement as between said roof boards both in a vertical direction and also longitudinally of the boards, and metal roof sheets engaging with each other along their tansverse edges which extend continuously across the car from side to side and are rigidly secured to the car framing at opposite sides of the car.

18. The combination with the framing of a railway box ear comprising end and side plates. carlines. the upper edges of which are formed on a continuous curve and purlins having their upper edges substantially flush with the upper edges of the carlines. of roof boards arranged diagonally of the car and bent to conform to the arched con-- figuration of said framing. and means for anchoring said roof boards to said framing and engaging adjacent boa rds one to another which prevents relative movement as between said roof boards both in a vertical direction and also lon itudinally of theboards.

19. The combination with the framing of a railway box car comprising end and side plates, carlines, the upper edges of which are formed on a continuous curve and purlins having their upper edges substantially flush with the upper edges of the carlines; of roof boards arranged diagonally of the car and bent to conform to the arched configuration of said framing, means for anchoring said roof boards to said framing and engaging adjacent boards one to another which prevents relative movement as between said roof boards both in a vertical direction and also longitudinally of the board, and metal roof sheets engaged with each other along their transverse edges which extend continuously across the car over the roof boards and are rigidly secured to the side plates of'the car at opposite ends.

20. A roof structure for a railway box car comprisingsupporting elements, roof boards arranged diagonally of the car and bent so as to give the roof an arched con-- figuration, and anchoring devices for secur ing the roof boards to the supporting elements which, in each case, engage a pair of roof boards along their meeting edges thereby preventing relative longitudinal move ment between said boards. 7

21. A roof structure for a railway box car comprising supporting elements, roof boards arranged diagonally of the car and bent so as to give the roof an arched configuration, anchoring devices for securing the roof boards to the supporting elements which, in each case, engage a pair of roof boards along their meeting edges thereby preventing relative longitudinal movement between said boards, and metal roof sheets which extend continuously across the car from side to side and rigidly secured to the car at opposite edges.

22. The combination with the side and end walls of a railway box car, of a roof structure for the car comprising a framework supported by said walls and having an arched configuration, roof boards extending diagonally across the said framework, bent so as to conform thereto, engaged one with another along their meeting edges as to prevent longitudinal movement and anchored to said framework and to said side and end walls, and a metal sheathing for said roof which is rigidly secured to the walls of the car.

:23. A roof structure for a railway box car comprising a supporting framework having an arched configuration, roof boards extending diagonally across the framework and bent so as to conform to the arched configuration thereof, and means for securing the roof board to said framework.

24. A roof structure for a railway box car comprising a supporting framework having an arched configuration, roof boards extending diagonally across the framework and bent so as to conform to the arched configuration thereof, means for securing the roof boards to said framework, and a metal sheathing covering the roof boards which is rigidly attached to the walls of the car.

25. A roof structure for a railway box car, comprising a supporting framework having an arched configuration, matched boards extending diagonally across said framework and bent so as to conform to the arched configuration thereof, and means for securin said roof boards to said framework.

EORGE HENRY (lrILMAN.

HENRY MILLS ROBERTSON. Witnesses:

WALTER L. CHAPIN,

DAN W. Dory.

It is hereby oertifie; in Letters Patent No. 1,155,563, granted October 5,

1915, upon the application of George Henry Gilmnn and Henry Mills Robertson,

of St. Paul, Minnesota, for an improvement in Car-Roofs, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 76, claim 15,

for the word wire read wires; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that. the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 2nd day of November, A. D., 1915.

[BEAL.] R. F. WHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

